UCSD MEN ELIMINATED FROM SOCCER PLAYOFFS

The UC San Diego men’s soccer team was eliminated from the NCAA Division II playoffs on Friday by the slightest of margins — the width of the piping on the net.

Forced to overtime and then penalty kicks after giving up the equalizing goal in the 87th minute, the Tritons twice hit the crossbar in the shootout, and Simon Fraser, of Burnaby, B.C., outscored UCSD 4-3 in penalties to prevail in Denver.

To make matters more difficult for UCSD, their leading scorer, Andisheh Bagheri, had a shot come so close to going in during overtime that it ricocheted off the inside of the post, the ball moving across the goal line without going in.

The loss ended the most successful season for UCSD during its time in Division II. The 17th-ranked Tritons earned their best record (14-3-5), reached their first CCAA title game, and hosted their first NCAA Division II playoff game last week.